Musings on movies, television, music and more

Song of the Day #1,687: ‘Stay’ – Rihanna

Four years ago Rihanna missed the Grammys ceremony because she had been brutally assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown just hours before it started. This year she was seated next to him, cuddling like newlyweds.

That’s likely the image of Rihanna that will stay with people following this year’s show — the mixture of anger, pity and disgust it evokes is just too powerful to overcome.

But Rihanna also made a very strong impression onstage, where she delivered two performances. One was a group tribute to Bob Marley in which she shared the stage with Sting, Bruno Mars and Ziggy Marley on ‘Could You Be Loved.’ The other was her own song, ‘Stay.’

As a Rihanna fan who has never claimed the woman has a very strong singing voice, I was impressed by the emotion and range she showed on this song. Perhaps she is ready to start growing creatively again after a couple of disappointing albums.

Her best album, Rated R, was recorded and released in the aftermath of the assault. It would be strange if her reconciliation with the jackass coincided with an artistic comeback.

All along it was a fever
A cold sweat, hot headed believer
I threw my hands in the air I said show me something
He said, if you dare come a little closer

Round and around and around and around we go
Oh now tell me, now tell me, now tell me now you know

Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can’t live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay

It’s not much of a life you’re living
It’s not just something you take, it’s given
Round and around, and around, and around we go
Oh now tell me, now tell me, now tell me, now you know

Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can’t live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay

Oh the reason I hold on
Oh ’cause I need this hole gone
Funny you’re the broken one but I’m the only one who needed saving
‘Cause when you never see the light
It’s hard to know which one of us is caving

Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can’t live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay, stay
I want you to stay, oh

I find the lyrics of this song – and the stark video accompanying it – to be simulataneously attempting to sell a vision of vulnerability and raw emotion – and to, somehow, despite the artifice – actually doing so. Not sure how I feel about it; while I am, of course, disturbed by her decision to reconcile with Chris Brown, I also am compelled by the glimpse her very visible choices (in terms of attendance at awards shows, songs she writes and/or sings, videos she shoots, etc.) give us into the thought process (or lack thereof) that must occur for so many women who return to abusive boyfriends and husbands. It’s almost as if she’s living a documentary without intending it (though I have more than a couple of suspicions that she might intend it, after all).